Prague, Czech Republic, November 3, 2017: The ANOC President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, brought the record-breaking 22nd ANOC General Assembly to a close at the Prague Hilton Hotel on Friday afternoon.

The two-day assembly attracted a record 1,300 delegates, with a full house of 205 National Olympic Committees in attendance along with IOC members, International Federations, Olympic Games organising committees and other stakeholders.

In his closing remarks, Sheikh Ahmad said the assembly had been held successfully over the two days and thanked the Czech Republic NOC and city of Prague for hosting the event, which included the “beautiful” Gala Dinner and ANOC Awards on Thursday evening.

IOC President Thomas Bach thanked the assembly for having had the opportunity to take part and to “share many good discussions and exchange of opinions”, and for supporting the projects of the IOC.

“It was a pleasure and an inspiration for the future work in the IOC,” said President Bach.

ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg read out a list of resolutions from the 22nd General Assembly, including the approval of FINA President Julio Maglione of Uruguay as ANOC Senior Vice President, to express confidence in PyeongChang 2018 to stage a “safe and secure” Winter Olympics, and to applaud the progress of the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games in San Diego, California, in October 2019.

In the ANOC Press Conference that followed the General Assembly, Secretary General Lindberg noted the highlights, including the efforts to fight doping and to protect clean athletes, to establish an independent ethics commission and the progress of the World Beach Games. “We feel we are really on the move,” she said.

Next Stop Tokyo

The 23rd ANOC General Assembly will be held in Tokyo in November 2018, Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda reported in Prague.

The meetings will begin on November 26 and 27 with the ANOC working groups and commissions and Executive Council.

The General Assembly will be held on November 28-29, with the JOC Reception on the evening of November 28 and the ANOC Awards and Gala Dinner on November 29.

The JOC will take the opportunity to show the NOC delegates the venues for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on November 30.

The accommodation will be the three hotels based around the Grand Prince New Takanawa at Shinagawa, with the assembly taking place in the Pamir international convention centre.